Outdoors, action, adventure

Nude hiking banned in picturesque Alpine countryside

Residents of the picturesque Appenzell Inner Rhodes canton of Switzerland have voted to ban nude hiking in response to a recent influx of hikers in the buff.

Visitors have been showing up to the tranquil countryside and taking treks wearing nothing more than hiking boots and socks, which some citizens find offensive, according to the Associated Press.

So by an overwhelming show of hands (which is how votes are cast) at the annual open-air assembly, legislation was passed to ban hiking while naked and to impose fines on hikers caught doing so.

"The reactions of the population have shown that such appearances over a large area are perceived as thoroughly disturbing and irritating," said a government-released statement.

Though the practice of hiking in one's birthday suit has become popular in portions of Germany and France, it is frowned upon in Switzerland, which is traditionally a more conservative country.

Not surprisingly, Swiss outdoor clothing and equipment manufacturer Mammut has referred to the naked hiking trend as unsafe.

"Exposing
certain delicate areas of the body to the sun's UV rays is dangerous,"
Mammut spokeswoman Katharina Habermann said in a release.

One might assume sunscreen companies feel the same way, though the ban may have an adverse effect on product sales in the region.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: By a show of hands, citizens of the tiny canton of
Appenzell Inner Rhodes voted overwhelmingly to ban naked hiking after nudists started rambling through their
picturesque region. Credit: Associated Press